Texas Lawmakers To Review Open Records Law

Texas lawmakers are considering possible changes to the Texas Public Information Act. They're considering how to reduce frivolous requests and whether or not the act hurts government contractors.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has asked the Senate Open Government Committee to take a look at possible changes when the Legislature meets next year. Changing the law that requires the government to make its records public always makes open government advocates a little nervous.

Houston Sen. Rodney Ellis, a Democrat, chairs the committee and on Monday will hear testimony also on how new technologies are creating public information and how long information should be retained.

State agencies complain that some requests for information are illegitimate and government contractors complain about the information released about them.